When the Dead played Seattle and Portland, the shows are sometimes seen as a continuous run. In '72 there are two each, with both Seattle dates being slightly better overall. But if you like the '72 sound, these are strong shows regardless. Summer '72 was the band at their best for looseness - and their worst for length between songs. 19 of the songs were played the night before; about 7 are better on this night,

First Set. The openers are solid (but for a few Bobby muffs), but this You Win Again stands against any from E72. In fact it already sounds a little different - and absolutely smooth. Jack Straw is better than the night before, but just a smooth, straightforward version. The "pigpen is home sick" by Phil is missing from Download 10 but the Bird Song is naturally unstudied. In its '72 version it's never the showstopper but this is great; and the full stop by Billy is something that couldn't be done with two drummers. Beat it on Down the Line-8 can't match the previous night's slaughter but Sugaree is much tighter (though as bland). The beginning measure of Black Throated is cut, and Bobby flubs a verse, but the next few more than make up for it. Cumberland is somewhat lightweight but very solid. They play the Hearse Song as Bobby introduces Donna. The very good Playing is more discursive than the night before - if not as nifty. There's an anomaly @7:55 on the official that's not on the Bear or Betty that circulate - yet shows up on the miller_94112. Oddly GDP didn't fix this, since they appear to use the Betty source (or is there a 3rd?). On Brown Eyed Women, they don't hit the main theme until after the first verse. Phil sounds good on vox and Bobby and Keith are having a great show (as is apparent here). Tennessee Jed ended the 1st set both nights. It's mighty; no surprise, since '72 is lousy with Jeds - most of them tops. They played it on all 4 stops of the PAC NW dates. All four are great.

Second Set. Another classic '72 China>Rider leads to a solid Mexicali - where Bobby chides Bear. This Deal, better and different than the night before, is the slower, shuffle type. Short, but it works perfectly, and listen for a Dark Star tease. The brief Promised Land doesn't seem to go where they wanted, but damn the Stella Blue is good. It's just the 5th one and Jerry leaves heart and soul onstage. He vamps behind another Bobby telling of the Yellow Dog dada non-joke. Mississippi Half-Step is just the 3rd one, and tighter than a latex jacket. Donna is good here. Except for being out of tune for Me & Bobby McGee the next several are solid enough. Unfortunately, Ramble has the vox mixed too high. You can tell which part of Truckin' is the Bear source by the image, because he liked less separation. He's Gone needs the balance fixed on all sources. There's a funny convo: Jer:"What are you doing, Mr. Goulet?" Bobby: "Well, let's see. Anyhow folks I'm gonna do the song that made me famous!" Jer: "There is one?!?" Bobby then tries to explain inside joke "hypnocracy" as a new light for a fast-fading world. Sugar Mag is plagued by reel wobbles at the beginning and has an abrupt fade-out on the final minute on all sources. The next few are average '72, getting a bit rough by Saturday Night - the last song but not the encore.

1st Set:  B
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4 stars

Highlights:
You Win Again - different than E72 & absolutely smooth
Bird Song - naturally unstudied
Tennessee Jed - '72 is lousy with these top Jeds
China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider - another '72 classic
Deal - slower, shuffle-type
Stella Blue - great early example
Mississippi Half-Step Toodleoo - better than latex

SOURCES: Two SBDs exist; one is the Betty board and the other is apparently the Bear. That's why, say, the vernon_13562 sounds different than the vault master (which is supposedly the Betty but sounds unique - note the stereo image). The GEMS_86726, for example, is distant but with a separated image (this source is missing some songs). I'll let somebody else sort out the two (three?) origins. The miller_94112 is the truest and the missing parts are patched with best-available sources. The dalton_miller_clugston_.updated is a composite of the Betty board and various sources for patches of brief sections, plus it includes (and is the best source for) the full Truckin'. It has missing tunings for some parts (and longer tunings - really long), except the Bear source used for the 1st set has the tunings cut. It's also the better source for Ramble, He's Gone & Sugar Mag. Download 10 has You Win Again, Bird Song, Playing in the Band, Morning Dew, Uncle John's Band, and One More Saturday Night.

I started singing YOU WIN AGAIN a couple of days ago and it was stuck in my head.
Good to hear it here
along with the other great staples of 1972.
This show is kinda like having two first sets.
Bird Song super mellow.
Backing Vocals pretty potent and at times you can hear each member of the band really singing with the lead.
Phil during B.E. Woman, Ramble on Rose
Donna during Half-Step
and I think it was Weir during RXR Blues
Good Sound full show until Truckin
(Go 5 minutes in and can still salvage the jam)
better for He's Gone, Sugar Mag,
and the jam in Morning Dew is EPIC.
Sweet Uncle John's with great harmonies
Very primal OMSN. (Go Weir)

thanks

First word uttered on the tape is "Bear" and that tells you all you really need to know about the recording of this front of house soundmix by Bear and Betty.

Most other versions are missing various songs, but this is a complete show. It it a herculean patching effort.

Listen carefully. This is a show featuring much wild and ridiculous stage banter between band members and falling into the audience.

There are incongruities with the inherent sound such as would suggest that the master tape was slightly water damaged in storage. No Big Deal! It doesn't last too long...or else, your ears adjust and you hear the inner core of the heart of this music. Thank you, Charlie.

Once you finally hear "it" you cast away all perception of imperfections and learn to appreciate the moment.

If you like a good vocal mix and an equally omnipresent Bobby guitar this is your show. The resident outpouring by Bobby accentuates the wholeness of what Garcia is concurrently laying down and without even trying it all confluences into a clear running stream of jam.

CM cleaned and pressed Rob Eaton's DAT's and turned them into a garment of delight. Thank you Rob. See you at the Fillmore tomorrow night.

Truly an average show for the band at that time -- they were "on" very night even if they weren't. Hence, the enthusiasm captured is quite representative of the era.

Of note: (before BIODTL) Phil's explanation of Pigpen's cancellation due to health concerns.

Equally bizarre is the cosmic repartee just prior to China Cat.

Phil: "That thing's pretty weird looking. It defies description. It's got a skull and a bunch of bones on it."

Bobby: "I think it's called a grateful ace fibrulary...fibtibul...frititful...fibruary..."

Phil: "It reminds me of Gorman Gas just drecking and dripping..."

Jerry: "...And creeping in and outta yer brain."

Such epitomizes this show.

Lots more banter including Weir's infamous "Short fat squat ugly little yellow dog" joke.

Despite the fact that this is a slightly warbly recording of an "average" show it still warrants a 5 star rating.

And had it not been for sniffles, water on the lung and the treading stomp of dancing elephants this may be considered one of a great sleeping giant of shows.